Fuel pumping and metering device



Jan.'1'9, 1937. v c. BECKMAN 2,063,442

' FUEL PUMPING AND METERING DEVICE I Filed Jan. 21, 1935 I 1 -Fif i E 14 30 31 32 4 8 43 n 41 39 4g 1 I 4] f? :1 :11 .2@ a v i 1 i 1 v I 33 35 5 r 5 34 a 7 15 9 J5 7 34 363; 25 Ir 1 7' i INVENTOR. (227% fiec/ y f,

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a novel fuel pumping and metering device for supplying liquid fuel to oil burners.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide positive acting means for pumping liquid fuel from a main reservoir to burners located remote from the reservoir and means for regulating the amount of fuel supplied to the burners. An advantage of positive pumping means, as compared with the gravity flow of the fuel commonly used, is that the tank may be placed remote from the burners and in a plane lower than the burners. Such an arrangement permits the tank to be placed underground or in the basement of a dwelling and thereby reduces the fire hazard.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in a device of this character for maintaining a constant level of liquid fuel in a position where it will flow by force of gravity to the burners where it is to be consumed, the level of fuel maintained at a definite point without the use of float valves such as are ordinarily used in this type of device. In this connection the invention provides a novel overflow through which excess fuel is removed from the device and returned to the supply reservoir.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a metering device including a motor for operating a fuel pump and valves for regulating the flow of fuel from the device to burners, the motor being electrically operated and the valves having means operated simultaneously therewith for controlling the motor supply circuit so that the motor is caused to operate simultaneously with the opening of a valve and the motor remains inoperative when the metering valves are closed.

With the above and other ends in view the 49 invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a vertical cross section;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are cross sections taken respectively on lines 2-2, 3--3 and 4--4 of Fig. l,

45 and Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on lines 55 of Fig. 3.

Reference is had to the drawing by characters which are employed to designate correspond- 50 ing parts throughout.

The device comprises a housing I formed with a cylindrical chamber 2 in which is mounted a screen 3, the latter being secured in place by movable elements 4 and a disk 5, the latter also 55 serving to seal the open end of the chamber 2.

A port 6 is provided in the housing I and opens into the chamber 2, the port 6 being adapted to be connected to a fuel supply tank (not shown) by suitable piping. Above the chamber 2 the housing I is formed with a second chamber 1 and a head 8 is secured on top of the housing l to close the chamber 1. The head 8 is formed of insulation.

In the chamber 1 is provided a gear pump comprised of gears 9 and I0 and an operating 10 shaft l I connected by a universally flexible element l2 to a drive shaft I3 of a motor M. The motor I4 is secured on the head 8 by tie bolts I5 which engage in screw threaded bores IS in the housing I. The tie bolts thus" serve to hold 15 the motor l4 and head 8 on the housing I.

The gear pump has an inlet port I! extending from the chamber 2 and an outlet port l8 extending into chamber 1. It is obvious, therefore, that fuel may enter the port 6 and be 20 pumped through the chamber 2 and screen 3 into the chamber 1. In order to prevent the pump from filling the chamber 1 above a predetermined level or, in other words, to cause an overflow of fuel, there is provided an overflow 25 tube I9 whose outlet end 20 is adapted to be connected to the supply tank or to a receptacle for receiving the overflow.

Opening through the bottom wall of the housing are outlet ports 2| and 22, each having one 30 end opening into the chamber 1 and their other ends screwthreaded to receive pipes (not shown) which lead to oil burners. In the ports 2| and 22 are secured valve fittings 23 and 24, each having a valve seat 25 and a metering port 26. 35 Screwthreaded into the fittings 23 and 24 are valve elements 21 and 28, each having a conical part 28w adapted to cooperate with the valve seats 25, and with cylindrical parts 29 cooperating with the metering ports 26. The valves 21 and 28 have operating handles 30 and 3| respectively by means of which manual pressure may be applied thereto for the purpose of rotating the same. Springs 43 are sleeved on the valves 21 and 28 between the handles 30 and 45 3| and the head 8 to offer resistance against rotation of the valves so that vibration in the device will not move the valves.

The electrical circuit to the motor l4 includes a wire lead 32 which is directly connected to the motor winding. The other wire lead 33 is connected to a terminal post 34 mounted in the head 8. A second terminal post 35 is mounted in the head 8 spaced apart from the terminal 34 and is connected to the motor winding by a, wire lead 36. A flexible conductor 31 has one end secured to the terminal 34 and has its free end 38 projecting beyond the terminal 35 and in the absence of external pressure the conductor 31 engages the terminal 35 to serve as means for bridging the two terminals. A flexible conductor 39 is secured at one end to the terminal 35 and has its free end as projecting beyond the terminal 34. Conductor 39 normally serves as means for bridging terminals 3i and 35. Carried by the handles 36 and 3| are downwardly projecting pins 4| and 12 formed of insulating material. Shoulders M are provided in the head 8 for limiting the movement of the pins 4i and. 42.

Assuming that the lead wires are connected to a supply source of electrical energy and the two conductors 3'! and 39 are in the position shown in Fig. 5, an electrical circuit is completed through the terminals 3% and 35 and conductors 31 and 39 which causes the motor I4 to operate. The gear pump is thus operated and fuel is pumped into the chamber 1 and a constant level, equal to the height of the overflow tube 59 is maintained in the chamber 1. In the event that the valves 2'! and 28 are moved to their closed position illustrated in Fig. 3, the handles 33 and 3! will be rotated so that the pin 4! strikes the end 43 of conductor 39 and causes the same to fiex away from the terminal 34. Pin 42 will likewise engage the end 38 of conductor 37 and will flex the same to move it out of contact with terminal 35. In their flexed condition the conductors 31 and 39 no longer bridge the terminals 34 and 35 and the current is interrupted at this point. However, should either one of the valves be moved toward an open position the pins M or 42, as the case may be, must pass through the position shown in Fig. 5, in which case the conductor 31 or 39 moved thereby will close the circuit by contacting the other terminal. In other words, when either or both valves are not entirely closed the motor circuit is completed.

In connection with the valves it will be seen with reference more particularly to Fig. 3, that the conical parts 28a are adapted to engage the seats 23 to seal the fittings 23 and 24 against passage of fluid therethrough. By moving the valves longitudinally the cylindrical parts 29 gradually pass the openings 2'5 and thus provide for adjustment of the effective area thereof. In other words, the cross sectional area of the fuel passage may be regulated to provide for metering of the fuel and the valve mechanism may be adjusted to seal the device against discharge of fuel, this latter function being performed by means auxiliary to the metering parts,

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described it will be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention, and such changes are contemplated.

What I claim is:-

1. In a device of the character described, a housing having a liquid reservoir, a pump in said housing for supplying liquid to said reservoir, metering valves in the bottom wall of said hous ing, actuating means for said valves disposed externally of said housing, an electric motor supported by said housing externally thereof and connected to said pump, circuit controlling means adjacent to said valve actuating means, and means on said valve actuating means for actuating said circuit controlling means.

2. In a device of the character described, a housing having an open top and a bottom wall formed with a chamber, a port opening into said chamber and adapted to be connected to a supply source, a piunp on said bottom wall having an intake communicating with said chamber and an outlet opening into the interior of said housing, an outlet port in said bottom wall separate from said chamber, a valve fitting in communication with said outlet port, said Valve fitting having an inlet port therein spaced above the plane of said bottom wall, an overflow tube extending from said bottom wall to a plane above the plane of said valve fitting port, a closure for the open end of said housing, and amotor supported on said closure by means engaging said bottom wall in such manner as to retain said closure on said housing, said motor being operatively connected to said pump.

3. In a device of the character described, a housing having an open top. and a bottom wall formed with a chamber, a port opening into said chamber and adapted to be connected to a supply source, a pump on said bottom wall having an intake communicating with said chamber and an outlet opening into the interior of said housing, an outlet port in said bottom wall separate from said chamber, a valve fitting in communication with said outlet port, said valve fitting having an inlet port therein spaced above the plane of said bottom wall, an overflow tube extending from said bottom wall to a plane above the plane of said valve fitting port, a closure for the open end of said housing, and a motor supported on said closure by means engaging said bottom wall in such manner as to retain said closure on said housing, and a flexible connection between said motor and pump.

CARL BECKMAN. 

